On September 2, a Georgian-language Facebook account, which manages the pro-Georgian Dream page “Leader 41,” shared a cover of Ekonomist magazine. The cover features a caricature of Georgia’s former president, Mikheil Saakashvili, with a Turkish caption that reads “Export Route.” The former president is shown riding a pink bicycle while wearing a pink tie and socks. Based on the reactions to the post, people perceive the magazine cover to be real. It is also notable that government-affiliated expert Gia Abashidze shared the cover in various public groups.
The cover of the Turkish edition “Ekonomist” featuring Mikheil Saakashvili is fabricated. The actual cover for the August 2023 issue of the magazine does not depict a caricature of the former Georgian president but instead features an illustration of the Earth.
Ekonomist is a Turkish-language weekly publication that covers politics, economics, and business topics. The date on the fabricated cover shows that it is from the issue for the week of August 6-19, 2023. The real issue from this period focuses on the Turkish economy and includes several headlines: “Those Leaving a Mark on Business,” “The Financial Corridor,” “Increased Demand for Housing in Migrant Cities,” “Marketing Communication,” “Tax Agenda,” and “Topics for Investors.” There is no mention of Georgia or any caricature of Mikheil Saakashvili on the real cover of the August issue.
Source:: Magzter
The real cover of the Turkish Ekonomist circulating on social media does not feature a caricature of Georgia’s former president, but rather an image of the Earth and freight transportation.
The dissemination of fabricated covers from various publications is a familiar propaganda tactic. Such visual materials are frequently spread on social media, and Myth Detector has verified many of them in the past.
About the Source:
Davit Tordia is a supporter of the ruling Georgian Dream party and manages the page “Leader 41.” Alongside this activity, he is known for sharing disinformation and manipulative content on social media.
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